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an enquiry concerning the nourifhment and growth 

 of vegetables, and perhaps much more fo in re- 

 flect to animals. 



Every one knows, that all richly cultivated 

 lands, whether fields or gardens, arc made fertile 

 by manure; and that the richeft of all manures 

 are thofe fubftances, whether animal or vegetable, 

 which have pafTed through the bodies of animals. 

 The excrements of animals then are the richeft 

 and mod nourifhing food of vegetables ; therefore 

 it is very reafonable to fuppofe, and experience 

 confirms it, that they attract them copioufly in 

 their fubtilized ftate as they float in the air. But 

 is it not truly aftonifhing, that materials, the moft 

 oftenfive and difgufting one can conceive, mould, 

 by the wonderful chemiftry of nature, be con- 

 verted into plants, leaves and flowers, moft curi- 

 oufly beautiful, which charm, delight, and ravifli 

 the tafte, the fight, and the fmell ? 



Should we carry our fpeculations a little fur- 

 ther, our aftonifhment will be greatly increafed. 

 Of what does the nourilhment of man confift? 

 From what fource are his mod favourite viands 

 derived? Is it not eafy to conceive, or rather^ is 

 it poflible not to perceive, that a few months be- 

 fore they might exift under a form and in cir- 



cumftances 



